Question

When you multiply two numbers with exponents, should you add, subtract, multiply or divide the exponents?

Answer 1

Please see below

Explanation:

When we multiply two numbers with exponents, we add exponents only when they have common base.

As an example, when we multiply say `48=2xx2xx2xx2xx3=2^3xx3^1` with `36=2xx2xx3xx3=2^2xx3^2`, then

`48xx36=(2^3xx3^1)xx(2^2xx3^2)=2^(3+2)xx3^(1+2)=2^5xx3^3`

Similarly, when we divide two numbers with exponents, we should subtract the exponent of denominator from that of numerator provided they have common base.